Recovering from Hip or Knee Replacement at Home: What Families Need to Prepare

While families have numerous emotional challenges to deal with in terms of taking care of a loved one who has undergone hip or knee replacement surgery, there are many practical stresses associated with making a home environment safe and conducive for recovery. In addition to wanting your loved One to heal properly and safely avoiding falls, your primary concern is that they remain as comfortable as possible. However, Families often find it unclear what they need to do in preparation for their loved One’s return Home.

With a little forethought, you can create a safe and supportive post-operative recovery environment in your own home. This article outlines things that Families need to consider prior to their loved One’s surgery and what to expect once your loved One returns Home.

Understanding Your Loved One’s Discharge Plan Before They Leave the Hospital

Take any preoperative appointment or education session that the hospital offers. Ask the health-care provider about:

• How long will your loved one be in the hospital?
• What weight-bearing limitations or activity restrictions will your loved one have?
• At what point can your loved One walk using a walker or cane?
• What exercises will need to be completed at Home?
• Signs of infection or blood clots.

Knowing the discharge plan early-on allows you to make arrangements at Home for the necessary supplies/equipment, and for scheduling purposes, prior to your loved One leaving the hospital.

Establishing a Safe Recovery Environment in Your Home

Most Patients will spend a large amount of time sleeping/resting in their bed in the first few weeks post-surgery.

You might not realize it but the way the bed/bedroom is arranged makes a difference. Your bed needs to be placed at a high enough level so that your loved one can get out of bed and stand up with their feet flat on the ground and without bending too much. Many families go looking for “new hospital bed for sale“ that allow them to adjust the height and provide a safer transfer option for both the patient and the caregiver.

Provide clear pathways from the bed to either the bathroom or commode.

Remove all loose rugs, wires and small pieces of furniture that could become entangled in a walker.

Benefits of an Adjustable Bed for Recovery

One of the major hurdles that patients face after knee surgery is getting into and out of bed. A fixed bed, a bed that is too low, or a very soft mattress, presents a barrier for patients to push themselves upwards or move positions.

Adjustable hospital beds available for purchase allow you to raise/lower the upper section of the bed for easier sitting up, and/or raise/lower the entire bed based upon your loved One’s ability to move around. Adjustable beds also present the benefit of allowing your loved one’s operated leg to be placed in an optimal position while still adhering to the surgeon’s instructions.

Utilizing this type of bed can significantly reduce the burden of recovery for both your loved One’s recovering joint and family members assisting with transferring your loved One.

Setting Up the “Recovery Station”

It is highly beneficial to set up a designated “recovery station” in proximity to the bed. The premise behind this concept is to centralize supplies close enough to the bed that your loved One does not have to exert unnecessary energy in order to retrieve something they need.

Examples of items that you may include in the recovery station area include:

• Pain Medications, including guidelines for administration
• Water bottle(s) and light meal/snack options
• Phone/cell phone charger/tv remote/etc.
• Tissue/lip balm/hand sanitizer/Cold packs/Cold therapy unit, if prescribed

If you are purchasing a low hospital bed for sale, then an over-bed table that slides across the bed frame will allow your loved One to eat, watch tv/read books/exercise without needing to move extensively.

Bathroom/Safe Passage

The bathroom may be one of the most dangerous rooms for a person recovering from surgery. Factors contributing to an increased risk of falling in the bathroom include slippery surfaces/wet floors/low-to-the-ground toilets. Consider adding:

• Raised toilet seats/toilet safety frames
• Grab bars adjacent to toilets/Shower stalls
• Anti-skid mats inside and outside Shower/tub areas
• Shower chairs/hand-held Shower head

Regardless of how safe you have made the bedroom area, your loved One will still need safe passage from their bed to the bathroom. The fewer times your loved One gets transferred, the lower their chances of experiencing other complications.

Managing Pain & Swelling at Home

Effective pain control is essential during the acute phase. If your loved One experiences uncontrolled pain, they may decide against walking/performing exercises, thus delaying recovery.

Work with your doctor/physician assistant/physical therapist to determine:

• When to take pain Medications (typically based on a schedule rather than “as needed”)
• Correct use of ice/Cold packs
• Duration/time for elevating leg
• Permitted/restricted movements

A Bariatric Hospital Bed for Sale will permit easy adjustments in position without applying pressure on the new prosthetic joint. This may lead to reduced discomfort between exercise sessions.

Assistance With Mobility/Daily Functions

Typically, patients start off using a walker. Practice walking from your loved one’s bed to the bathroom/kitchen/living room. Remove obstructions, increase lighting, remove clutter.

Additional tools/items you may need include:

• Strong chair with armrests/sturdy seat pad
• Reachers/grabbers for obtaining items from floor
• Long handled shoe horn/long sock aid
• Clothing that is simple to put on/take off

If navigating a low-profile sofa or very soft bed becomes problematic, it may be another good reason why families begin searching for premium hospital beds for sale during their loved One’s recovery period.

Preparation as a Caregiver

Your loved One will likely not be able to care for themselves independently for several days/weeks post-surgery. Depending upon their individual needs, they may require assistance with standing from bed, bathing/dressing/preparing meals. It is ideal to implement a rotating system between family/friends/paid caregivers.

As a caregiver, you consistently underestimate the physical demands associated with providing care. Transferring Patients/re-positioning Patients/moving Patients around quickly add-up. Using support equipment like an adjustable hospital bed for sale will greatly reduce the strain on your back/joints and enhance caregiving capabilities for longer periods.

Identifying Early Warning Signs

Although setting up an efficient recovery area is vital, issues can arise despite how well-prepared you are.

Seek immediate attention/emergency treatment if you observe any of the following:

• Increased pain/inflammation/temperature in leg
• Fever/chills
• Redness/discharge/odor at incision site
• Shortness of breath/chest pain
• Confusion/altered behavior

Early intervention can prevent minor problems from becoming serious complications.